Hikers questioned in killing of SLO man found on Cerro San Luis

Detective Sue Dewbre of the San Luis Obispo Police Department talks to hikers Sunday at the start of the Lemon Grove Loop Trail at Cerro San Luis. Charles Lavenson’s body was found near the trail Oct. 23. jaysonmellom@thetribunenews.com

Detective Sue Dewbre of the San Luis Obispo Police Department talks to hikers Sunday at the start of the Lemon Grove Loop Trail at Cerro San Luis. Charles Lavenson’s body was found near the trail Oct. 23. jaysonmellom@thetribunenews.com

Police detectives took to the Lemon Grove Loop Trail at Cerro San Luis on Sunday afternoon to interview hikers in hopes of finding leads in the Charles Lavenson homicide case.

San Luis Obispo Police Department Lt. Jeff Smith said Sunday that detectives “talked to a lot of people” on the trail but have “nothing that’s pointing to a suspect just yet.”

The body of 63-year-old Lavenson, of San Luis Obispo, was found with a head wound on the afternoon of Oct. 23 at the base of the mountain near Lincoln and Mountain View streets. An autopsy found Lavenson died of blunt force trauma. A toxicological report is pending.

Smith said detectives handed out and posted a number of laminated fliers along heavily traveled spots of the trail in hopes that someone will offer leads.

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